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Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation Trust

Annual Giving
$7.5M
Grant Range
$25K - $1.0M
00

Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.5+ million
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: No public application process
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $500,000+
  • Average Grant: $100,000
  • Assets: $154+ million
  • Geographic Focus: Boston and Massachusetts, with emphasis on the Archdiocese of Boston

Contact Details

Address: 82 Oak Road, Concord, MA 01742

Phone: 617-439-2498

Note: The foundation does not have a website and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

Founded in 2001, the Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation Trust serves as the philanthropic vehicle for James and Lisa Mooney, prominent Boston-area donors. James Mooney is President and Partner at The Baupost Group LLC, a Boston-based hedge fund, where he heads the public investments group. With assets exceeding $154 million and annual giving of over $7.5 million (with $9.86 million distributed in 2017), the foundation maintains a strong focus on Catholic education and Catholic organizations in the Greater Boston area. The foundation makes significant grants, with many exceeding $100,000 and some reaching into the millions. Their most notable gift includes a $1 million endowment to the College of the Holy Cross for scholarships targeting middle-class students from Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Boston. The foundation operates with a low profile and makes contributions exclusively to pre-selected charitable organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but makes strategic investments across several focus areas:

  • Catholic Education Grants: $25,000 - $1,000,000+ (primary focus area, includes Catholic schools, scholarship funds, and educational institutions)
  • Healthcare Grants: $25,000 - $500,000+ (supporting hospitals and healthcare access)
  • Youth Development Grants: $25,000 - $500,000+ (supporting youth programs and human services)
  • Community Development: Variable amounts

Application Method: Invitation only; no public application process.

Priority Areas

Catholic Education (Primary Focus):

  • Catholic elementary and secondary schools
  • Catholic higher education institutions
  • Scholarship programs for Catholic school students
  • Campaign support for Catholic education
  • Special emphasis on middle-class students from Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Boston

Health and Public Health:

  • Major Boston-area hospitals
  • Healthcare foundations
  • Medical research institutions
  • Children's health initiatives

Human Services and Youth Development:

  • Youth development programs
  • Education and workforce development
  • Boys & Girls Clubs
  • Programs serving disadvantaged youth

Community Development:

  • Arts and culture (particularly music education)
  • Community-based organizations in the Boston area

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publish specific exclusions, but their documented giving pattern shows:

  • Organizations outside the Greater Boston area receive limited consideration
  • Non-Catholic education institutions are rarely supported (though some exceptions exist for prestigious New England institutions)
  • The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals from any organization

Governance and Leadership

James F. Mooney - Co-Founder and Donor

  • President and Partner at The Baupost Group LLC (Boston hedge fund)
  • Heads Baupost's public investments group
  • B.A. in Political Science from College of the Holy Cross
  • MBA from Georgetown University
  • CFA charterholder
  • Joined Baupost in 2000; named Partner and President in January 2017
  • Has ownership stake in The Baupost Group between 5% and 10%
  • Previous experience: Vice President in Special Situations Fund at Chase Manhattan Bank

Lisa Mooney - Co-Founder and Donor

  • Works alongside her husband in directing the foundation's philanthropy
  • Shares focus on Catholic education and Boston-area charitable organizations

The couple grew up in the Boston area and maintain strong ties to the local Catholic community, particularly through their alma mater connections and support for Catholic education.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." The foundation does not maintain a website, does not publish grant guidelines, and does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Grants are awarded to organizations that:

  • Have existing relationships with the Mooney family
  • Are selected by the trustees/donors based on their strategic interests
  • Align with the foundation's core focus on Catholic education and Boston-area organizations

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation makes grants to organizations with which the Mooney family has personal connections, particularly within the Catholic education ecosystem of Greater Boston. Their documented giving shows consistent support to organizations where they have established relationships:

  • Catholic Education Network: Organizations such as Catholic Schools Foundation, Campaign for Catholic Schools, and specific Catholic schools (Nativity Preparatory School, St. Sebastian's School) receive recurring support.

  • Alma Mater Connection: The College of the Holy Cross, James Mooney's undergraduate institution, has received major gifts including their $1 million scholarship endowment.

  • Major Boston Institutions: Prestigious hospitals and institutions like Massachusetts General Hospital, Mt. Auburn Hospital, Broad Institute, and Boston Medical Center have received grants.

  • Professional Networks: The Baupost Group connection and Boston finance community may provide relationship pathways.

Based on the foundation's giving patterns, organizations already operating within Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Boston or major healthcare institutions where the Mooney family has existing connections are most likely to receive consideration. However, without a formal application process, there is no documented pathway for new organizations to approach the foundation.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the foundation operates on a trustee-discretion model without a formal application or decision cycle.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a public application process. Organizations that have previously received funding may receive ongoing support based on the foundation's continued interest and relationship with the organization.

Application Success Factors

Since the Mooney-Reed Charitable Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, their documented giving patterns reveal clear priorities:

Strong Catholic Education Focus: The foundation's primary giving priority is Catholic education, with particular emphasis on the Archdiocese of Boston. Organizations serving middle-class Catholic school students appear particularly aligned with their interests, as evidenced by the Jim '90 and Lisa Mooney Scholarships at College of the Holy Cross specifically targeting "middle-class students from Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Boston."

Large-Scale Impact: Grants typically exceed $100,000, with many in the several hundred thousand dollar range and some reaching into the millions. This suggests the foundation prefers to make substantial investments where their funding can have significant impact rather than distributing smaller grants widely.

Boston-Area Geographic Preference: Documented grantees are overwhelmingly based in Greater Boston and Massachusetts. Recent recipients include Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Year Up, Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation, and Mt. Auburn Hospital.

Established Institutional Relationships: The foundation consistently supports major, established institutions rather than emerging organizations. Grantees include prominent names like the Broad Institute, New England Conservatory of Music, and Newton Country Day School.

Health and Youth Development as Secondary Priorities: Beyond Catholic education, the foundation shows consistent interest in major healthcare institutions and youth development programs, particularly those serving disadvantaged young people.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Available: This foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited proposals and makes grants only to pre-selected organizations. Traditional grant seeking approaches will not be effective.

  • Relationship-Driven Philanthropy: Grants are awarded based on the Mooney family's personal connections and strategic interests, particularly within Boston's Catholic education community and major institutional healthcare.

  • Catholic Education is Central: If your organization serves Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Boston, particularly programs supporting middle-class students, you are aligned with their core mission—though you would still need an existing relationship or connection.

  • Think Big: With grants averaging $100,000 and many exceeding this amount, the foundation makes substantial investments. They distributed $9.86 million in 2017 and maintain annual giving above $7.5 million from an asset base exceeding $154 million.

  • Geographic Boundaries Matter: Greater Boston and Massachusetts organizations dominate their giving. Organizations outside this region have minimal representation in their documented grant portfolio.

  • Institutional Credibility Required: Grantees tend to be well-established institutions with strong reputations—major hospitals, prominent Catholic schools, respected youth development organizations, and prestigious cultural institutions.

  • Board Connections Through Baupost: James Mooney's position as President and Partner at The Baupost Group LLC may provide networking pathways for organizations with connections to Boston's finance community, though this is speculative based on publicly available information.

References

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